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(ModeL) G. H THOMPSON.

SEAT FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

No. 292,071. Patented Jan. 15, 1884.

' llurr'nn STATES FFECEO ATnNr SEAT FOR PUBLIC BUILDINQS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 292,671, dated January15, 1884.

Application filed August 21, 1882.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, GEO. H. THOMPSON, of

Plattsmouth, in the county of Cass, and in the State of Nebraska, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Seats for PublicBuildings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, making a part of this specification, in which-- .Figure l is aperspective view of my chairs as arranged for use. Fig. 2 is a like viewof one of said chairs separated from the others, its seat being turnedupward, and its foot-support or adj ustable platform in position foruse, and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of said chair as arranged forstorage.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

The design of myinvention is to enable halls having level floors to beeasily and cheaply converted into audience-rooms with graded seats; andto this end it consists in the construction of the chairs, in the meansemployed for furnishing support for the feet, and in the combination ofthe chairs with each other, substantially as and for the purposehereinafter specified.

In the annexed drawings, A and A represent the sides of my chair, whichmay have any desired form, and are united by means of rails B, thatextend between said parts at suitable points at the back and-lowerportions, and by a rod, 0, that extends between the front centralportions, and upon which is pivoted a seat, I), that is adapted tooccupy a horizontal position when desired for use, and to be turnedupward to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 when not in use. Thechairs intended for the front row have the ordinary height, while thosefor use in each row in the rear have such increase in height as toenable their users to obtain a good view of the stage, such relativeheights being governed by the size of the hall. Pivoted upon a rung, B,be tween the lower front portions of the chairsides A of each chair inrear of the front row is one end of a board, E, which has a width equalto the space between said parts, and a (Model) length sufficient toenable its outer end to pass between the sides of the next chair infront, and to rest upon a rung or rod, 13 that is provided at suchpoint. The board or foot platform E is placed at a distance below theseat D corresponding to the position of the floor with relation to theseats of the front row of chairs, and performs the same office as saidfloor, furnishing a support forthe person while passing to or from theseat and for the feet while occupying the latter.

The chairs thus constructed are preferably combined to form rows of twoor more in length, and when used are placed in position so that theplatform of each will engage with and rest uponthesupporting-rung of thechair immediately in front, after which the spaces left for passages'oraisles are each provided with a platform, F, that fills the samelaterally, and is provided with successive steps f, which eacheorrespondin elevation and length to the platforms of the contiguouschairs. As thus arranged, it will be seen that while the floor coveredby the chairs and aisle is level, it is practically the same asthoughinclined or stepped and furnished with the usual fixed seats, and a hallthus provided is capable of many very different uses to which either ofthe usual forms of floor and seating arrangements would not be adapted.

hen the chairs are not required for use,

they may be stored in a small space by turning the seat and platform ofeach to the position shown in Fig. 3, and then placing said chairshorizontally and piling one upon another.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, whatI claim as new 1S 1. As a means for providing a level floor with gradedseats, a series of chairs having from front to rear regularly'increasingeleva= tions, and platforms pivoted to each rear chair and extendingfrom the same to the one in front at elevations corresponding to theelevation of the chairs, whereby a raised stepped floor is formed,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with two or more series of graded chairs and pivotedplatforms, In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 10 constructed,substantially as described, and have hereunto 'set my hand this 14th dayof grouped in sections, with aisles or passages August, 1882.

between the sections, )latforms placed in such aisles or passagesatheights which correspond GEORGE H. THOMPSON.

to the elevation of the contiguous pivoted pl atforms, whereby a steppedfloor is formed for \Vitnesses:

such aisles, substantially as and for the pur- J. E; MoRRIsoN, pose setforth. I ALLEN BEESDEL.

